Government ‘needs to raise its game on HS2 compensation’, minister admits

Monday 27 January 2014 12:11 BST

Campaign: Dermot O'Leary is among those who have called for HS2 to be scrapped

A minister today said the Government needed to "raise its game" over compensation to homeowners affected by HS2.

The minister accepted there were “problems” with the current offer and more people should be allowed to make a claim.

The admission comes as the Government struggles against Tory backbenchers to pass legislation needed to build the high-speed line.

It comes after London campaigners — including Boris Johnson’s father Stanley and X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary — demanded on Thursday that HS2 be scrapped.

The minister told the Standard today: “The Government really needs to raise its game. It needs to do a lot more for the people who are going to be affected. The current package is there, but there are problems with it that could be fixed.”

Under existing proposals the Government would buy properties within a “safeguarded area”, 60m either side of the HS2 route, at full, unblighted value. Homeowners would also get compensation worth 10 per cent of the value of their home up to £47,000.

There is also a proposed “long-term hardship scheme” to compensate those outside the safeguarded area who need to move for personal reasons but are unable to because of the effect of HS2.

A “voluntary purchase zone”, 120m either side of the track, would allow homeowners to ask for their property to be bought.

The minister told the Standard increasing the voluntary purchase zone to 500m and broadening the criteria for the hardship scheme would be good initial steps to improve the offer.